Black Rainbows
Stellar Prophecy

The Black Rainbows are a seasoned band – they've been around for over 10 years – in the Italian stoner scene. Their references have always been to the “classic” names of the genre, such as bands like Fu Manchu and the progenitors Kyuss. It’s important to remember that stoner rock really began with Kyuss in the '90s. The hallmark of stoner rock is a certain retro flavor and a sometimes gritty sound. These are characteristics that we find abundantly in this new album by Black Rainbows entitled “Stellar Prophecy.” The record is composed of straightforward and more typically “heavy” tracks like the opener “Electrify,” characterized by a monolithic and hard sound, and the following track “Woman.” The long “Golden Widow” is, in my opinion, one of the peaks of “Stellar Prophecy”: it starts with a soft and psychedelic intro, with effected guitars, a sinuous synth, and a prominent bass line: it is an enveloping and overwhelming track where the spirit of the legendary Hawkwind hovers powerfully, characterized by the heavy use of fuzz. The “psychic” journey continues with the eruptive “Evil Snake,” the decisive “It’s Time To Die,” and the monolithic “Keep The Secret.” The final track “The Travel” is the other highlight of “Stellar Prophecy”: the keyboards create “space rock” atmospheres accompanied by a pulsing bass and effected guitars for a very calm start: then the sound envelops us in phantasmagoric and “spatial” spirals creating a sonic “maelstrom” that is difficult to disengage from: then the sounds become harder with the fuzz in the forefront: it is undoubtedly a great psychedelic ride. Essentially, “Stellar Prophecy” is a good album that lovers of “stoner” and even harder psychedelia will surely appreciate.